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Synonyms

gospel

American  
[gos-puhl] / ˈgɒs pəl /

noun

  1. the teachings of Jesus and the apostles; the Christian revelation.

  2. the story of Christ's life and teachings, especially as contained in the first four books of the New Testament, namely Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

  3. (usually initial capital letter) any of these four books.

  4. something regarded as true and implicitly believed.

    to take his report for gospel.

  5. a doctrine regarded as of prime importance.

    political gospel.

  6. glad tidings, especially concerning salvation and the kingdom of God as announced to the world by Christ.

  7. (often initial capital letter) an extract from one of the four Gospels, forming part of the Eucharistic service in certain churches.

  8. gospel music.

adjective

  1. of, relating to, or proclaiming the gospel or its teachings.

    a gospel preacher.

  2. in accordance with the gospel; evangelical.

  3. of or relating to gospel music.

    a gospel singer.
Gospel 1 British  
/ ˈɡɒspəl /

noun

  1. any of the first four books of the New Testament, namely Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John

  2. a reading from one of these in a religious service

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
gospel 2 British  
/ ˈɡɒspəl /

noun

  1. Also called: gospel truth.  an unquestionable truth

    to take someone's word as gospel

  2. a doctrine maintained to be of great importance

  3. Black religious music originating in the churches of the Southern states of the United States

  4. the message or doctrine of a religious teacher

    1. the story of Christ's life and teachings as narrated in the Gospels

    2. the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ

    3. ( as modifier )

      the gospel story
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
gospel Cultural  

  1. The “good news” of salvation (see also salvation) (see Gospels). Certain styles of religious music are also called “gospel.” (See spirituals (see also spirituals).)

Other Word Forms

  • nongospel adjective

Etymology

Origin of gospel

First recorded before 950; Middle English go(d)spell, Old English gōdspell ( good, spell 2 ); translation of Greek euangélion “good news” ( evangel 1 )

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.